Moycarkey Castle facts for kids
Moycarkey Castle is an old tower-house located in Moycarky townland, in County Tipperary, Ireland. This type of castle was a strong home built for protection. It stands within a large, rectangular outer wall called a bawn. This bawn has round towers at two of its corners, helping to guard the area. The main entrance to the tower-house was specially designed to be very safe, with a "double murder-hole" to protect against attackers.
Moycarkey Castle: A Look Back
Moycarkey Castle was once a very important building. It served as the main stronghold, or strong base, for a family called the Cantwells. The Cantwells were a powerful family who worked under the Butlers of Ormond. The Butlers were a very important noble family in Ireland. The Cantwells owned other castles too, like one in a place called Mellisson.
The Cantwell Family's History
The Cantwell family lived at Moycarkey Castle for many years. They were known to be loyal to the Butlers of Ormond. One member of the family, Edmund Cantwell, had a daughter named Catherine. She married John Butler, who was the son of a very important person, the second Viscount Mountgarret. This marriage would have been a way to strengthen ties between the two families.
In the year 1640, records show that a man named William Cantwell was the owner of Moycarkey Castle. This tells us that the Cantwell family continued to live there for a long time.
What Happened to the Castle?
Over time, like many old castles, Moycarkey Castle became a ruin. In 1889, a book about County Tipperary described the castle. It said that the castle had a large square tower and a tall surrounding wall. The book also mentioned something interesting: a crack in the tower. This crack was caused by a lightning strike more than a hundred years before 1889! At that time, the castle ruins were part of the land owned by a person named John Max.
Today, Moycarkey Castle remains an important historical site. It helps us learn about the families who lived there and how castles were built and used in the past.
